The U.S. will permit non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Israel over safety risks, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem said on Friday, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran. The embassy did not elaborate on the safety risks leading to the "authorized departure", which allows affected personnel to decide whether to leave. It falls short of the ordered departure instituted this week for some personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. ADVERTISEMENTThe U.S. has built up one of its biggest military deployments in the Middle East as it negotiates with Iran over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme. Iran has threatened to strike American bases in the region if it is attacked, and an escalation could also draw in Israel.

Source: The Telegraph February 27, 2026 10:17 UTC